Method of embalming dead bodies



Sept. 3, 1935. H. l. JONES ET AL 2,013,156

I METHOD EMBALMING DEAD BODIES Filed Aug. 15, 1933 2 sheets-sheet 1INVENIORS WITNESS.

g BY I 7 m 9W M l 'A'ITORNEYS HI. dbnes 11 BL. 66. eer-re,

Sept. 3, 1935. H. 1. JONES ET AL METHOD OF EMBALMING DEAD BODIES FiledAug. 15, 1955 Z-Sheets-Sheet 2 BY M ATTORNEYS 3 Patented Sept. I 3, 1935UNITED-"STATES PATENT OFFICE Hilton Ira .fiones, Wilmette, Ill.,- andRobert L.

- St. Pierre, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application August', 1933, Serial No. 685,282

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method of embalming deadbodies.

An'object of the invention is the provision of a process for embalmingbodiesin which the body I is placed in a confined space and subjected toeither a vacuum or pressure or both, in connection with a sterilizingfluid.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a process forembal'ming bodies in which the body is placed in a confined space sothat after the blood vessels have been drained of their contents anembalming fluid may be injected intravenously after which the body maybe covered with the embalming fluid and pressure and a vacuum may bealternately applied to the confined space so that the embalming fluidmay be forced inwardly and withdrawn through the tissues of the body sothat all parts of the body will be afiected by the fluid.

r A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tank orcontainer having a slidably mounted tray therein for receiving the deadbody, the tank being provided with an air-tight seal so that a vacuummay be-produced in the '1 container or pressure is created for applyingthe embalming fluid to all parts of the body, the container beingprovided with tubes which are adapted to be connected with the veins andarteries for draining the same and for supplying said veins and arterieswith embalming fluid as is well known. 1 I

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description,'in view of the accompanying drawingsforming a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not conilnedto the disclosure, beingsusceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define nomaterial departure from the salient features of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation constructed in accordance with the ourinvention,

45 Figure 2 is a top plan view with parts broken Figure 3 isa front endview with parts brokenaway showing the interior of the apparatus, and

of an apparatus principles of Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectiontaken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

ll designates a base member which is supported by standards II and I2.

so constructed at their upper ends as to support 5 a cylindrical tank orcontainer l3.

These standards are I This tank is provided with windows I which aresealed to openings in the top wall of the tank in order to create anair-tight compartment within the tank. A drain I5 is located at one endof the tank and on the bottom and is normally closed by a plug it. Thedrain is only employed for I removing any liquids remaining in the tankafter theembalming process has been completed. The drain may also beemployed for cleansing the in terior oi the apparatus.

One end of the cylindrical tank is open as shown at but is normallyclosed. A circular angle iron member 20 is secured to the outer wall ofthe tank adjacent-the opening 2 0 in any approved manner to provide alaterally disposed flange 22 M which is provided with slots 23 toreceive headed bolts 24. Nuts 25 are threaded onto the alter ends of thebolts forsealing a flange it of a cover 21 to the flange 22. The coverplate is provided with laterally projecting arms having journals 3!adapted to be alined with journals 3! formed at the ends of the arms 33which are secured to the side wall of the container. A pintle '34 isreceived by the journals 3!! and 32 thus forming a hinged mounting forthe cover or door 21.

The interior of the container is provided with a pair of tracks 35 whichare secured in any approved manner to the inner wall of the containerand these tracks are adapted to support rollers 36. A tray 31 which iscurved is adapted to receive the body to be embalmed and the tracksextend substantially the full length of the container so that thetray 3imay be moved inwardly or outwardly of the container after the door H hasbeen opened. Blocks 38 are. secured at spaced points upon the underfaceof the tray 37 and axles as are threaded at into the blocks. The tray isprovided with a curved flange ti and adjacent the axles 39 are providedpassages to receive the axles so that the axles are supported by 40 theblocks 38 and the flange.

Projecting into the container it at spaced points are a pair of metaltubes and it. These tubes are provided with a nipple M to which isadapted to be attached a rubber tube 48. This t5 tube as shown in Fig. 3is adapted to be extended to the body and inserted into a vein o1:artery. as the case may be. Any number of these tubes may be employedfor the purpose. As shown at 5 0 in Figure 1, the free ends of thesetubes 45 and 46 project beyond the wall of the container and are adaptedto be connected with a device for supplying, an embalming fluid forintravenous injection. I

A pipe52 extends from an air pump 53 up around the outer wall of thecontainer l3 and enters the top of the container, as shown at 56. A pipe55 enters'the container as shown at 54 at the top and extends downwardlyto the air pump 53. A valve 51 is interpolated in the pipe 52 and isadapted to cut off this pipe from the interior of the tank or containerl3. A pipe 58 is provided with a valve 59 which is connected with thepipe 52 between the valve 5'! and the air pump 53 and is adapted tosupply the, pump with air when desired. A valve 69 is adapted to cut offcommunication between the tank i3, the pipe 55 and the air pump 53. Apipe 6| is connected with the pipe 55 between the valve 60 and the airpump 53 and is provided with a valve 52 adapted to close the pipe 6| tothe atmosphere. A motor 53 drives the pump 53 through a shaft 64.

The motor 63 by means of a shaft 65 drives a. fluid pump 66. This pumpis connected by a pipe 61 having a valve 68 with a source of fluid, notshown. A pipe 69 connects the pipe 61 with the bottom of the tank l3 andis controlled by a. valve Ill.

A pipe ii connects the pump 56 with the. storage tank containing anembalming fluid and is adapted to provide means for supplying the pumpwith the embalming fluid while the pipe 61 returns the fluid to thestorage tank. A valve 12 controls the flow of the fluid to the pump. Apipe 13 connects the pipe II with the bottom of the tank I3 and is adischarge pipe for the fluid which has been supplied to the tank. Avalve 14 controls the flow of the fluid from the tank.

A pressure gage I5 is connected with the top of the tank while a vacuumgage 16 is connected with the top of the tank l3 and located adjacentthe pressure gage 15.

In carrying out my method for embalming dead bodies in the tank l3 thebody is placed upon the tray 31 and is securely fastened thereto. Thetubes 49 which may be of any number are connected with the veins andarteries so that the vascular system may be drained in the usual mannerby connecting the outer ends 50 of the pipes 45 and 46 with some form ofpump. The pipes may then be connected with a storage tank and anembalming fluid pumped into the vascular system. In certain cases, theembalming fluid may be pumped into the tank l3 through the inlet pipe 69until the body is covered with the same. The valves 60 and GI of theassociated air pump 53 in Figure 4 are then closed while the valves 51and 59 are opened and the pump will force air through the pipe 52 andinto the chamber in the tank I3 until the desired pressure is registeredin the gage and this pressure is maintained for a predetermined periodso that the embalming fluid will be forced from the exterior of the bodyto the interior.

After the fluid has been drained from the chamber l3 the valves 60 and62 are opened to permit the escape of air. The valve 59 is then closedwhile the valve '51 is maintained open. The pump operating in thismanner will create a vacuum in the tank l3 so that the fluids which havebeen forced into the body by the air pressure and also the fluid whichhas been forced into the vascular system will be drawn outwardly throughthe tissues of the body so that all parts of the body will be properlyaffected by the. embalming fluid. The operation just described,including a series of steps of supplying the tank with fluid, applyingpressure to the fluid.

removing the fluid and then creating a vacuum in the tank may berepeated until the embalming process has been completed.

It will be appreciated that any type of fluid may be employed forembalming bodies such as gaseous disinfectants and certain of thesedisinfectants may be formaldehyde, sulphur dioxide and the like. Thedisinfectants may be applied singly or in combination.

The thorough penetration of all the tissues of the body is what isaccomplished by this method.

The circulatory system of the body may be drained of the normal bodyfluids and then injected with the embalming fluid while the body is inthe tank and when a. pressure or vacuum has been applied to the tank.During the injection of the embalming fluid into the vascular system thebody may be subjected to a pressure of formaldehyde and sulphur dioxidegases.

The tank may also be employed for dehydrating bodies where the bodiescontain an excess of water in such cases as dropsy and in those bodieswhere drowning has occurred. In this case dry air is admitted after avacuum has been main-- tained in the tank.

This method of embalming the body is particularly eflicacious in thosecases where the body has been mutilated by an accident or by necropsy.In such cases where mutilation has been such that it is impossible todrain the blood vessels, the dissevered portions of the body may beplaced "on the tray and alternately subjected to vacuum and pressure inconnection with the embalming fluids so that the embalming fluids willbe forced through the tissues and withdrawn so that the tissues will bethoroughly saturated. When the mutilated body and the parts are placedon the tray they are first subjected to a vacuum in order to removeblood and air from the tanks. After the body has been in a high vacuumfor some time air is allowed to enter and very considerable pressure ismaintained on the parts. The embalming fluid, however, is maintainedabout the body and the parts so that the tissues will be thoroughlysaturated.

Not only may human bodies be embalmed as has been described above, butthe tank may be employed for curing meats, such as hams, bacon, and thelike. Ordinarily the hams, for example, are soaked in a strong solutionof sodium nitrate, to which some sugar has been added. After thesaturation is complete, the hams are dried and smoked. The saturationprocess requires a great deal of time and this time may be considerablyreduced by employing the alternate vacuum and pressure methoddescribed-above for causing saturation of the meats with the sodiumnitrate solution.

We claim:

1. The method of embalming bodies that have their vascular systemsdrained which comprises confining a body in a restricted space,injecting an antiseptic fluid into the vascular system, enveloping thebody in an antiseptic fluid in the confined space, creating forpredetermined periods alternately pressures and vacuums in the confinedspace for alternately forcing the antiseptic flu d through the tissuesto the interior of the body and for withdrawing through the tissues aportion of the antiseptic fluid thus forced into the body and also someof the antiseptic fluid from the vascula: system until the tissues ofthe body are thoroughly saturated with the fluid, the antiseptic fluidbeing withdrawn from the space before the periods of vacuum.

2; The method of embalming bodies that have their vascular systemsdrained which comprises confining a body ina space sealed against theatmosphere, injecting an antiseptic fluid into the vascular system,creating a vacuum in the space for withdrawing fluids from the body,supplying an antiseptic fluid to the space to completely envelop thebody with said antiseptic fluid, then creating a pressure in the spaceand maintaining the pressure on the antiseptic fluid to force the sameinto the tissues of the body, removing the envelop of the antisepticfluid and creating a vacuum in the space for a predetermined time anduntil the antiseptic fluid in the vascular system is drawn outwardlyfrom the interior of the body and through the tissues, supplying theconfined space with the withdrawn fluid and applying alternate pressuresand vacuum to the space until the tissues of the body have becomesaturated with the fluid.

HILTON IRA JONES. ROBERT L. ST. PIERRE.

